Cubs' Maddon expects to be fined for critical comments

Oct 16, 2017 - 1:31 AMChicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Sunday he expects to get fined for his comments criticizing a call at home plate getting overturned in the seventh inning of Game 1 of the NLCS on Saturday.

Charlie Culberson scored the final run of the Los Angeles Dodgers' 5-2 win after it was ruled Chicago catcher Willson Contreras did not clear a path to home plate.

"I expect it," said Maddon, who was scheduled to meet with MLB Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre on Sunday.

Maddon said he has no problem with the fine, which will be donated to charity.

Maddon, however continued to express frustration with the ruling.

"The only thing I'll say is the more I watch it, it was a tremendous baseball play on our part," Maddon said. "I could not be happier with the technique, and you can also argue about the bad base running on their side.

Maddon was ejected in the seventh inning after arguing the overturned call with plate umpire Lance Barksdale.

Barksdale initially called Culberson out on a throw from left fielder Kyle Schwarber on a single by Justin Turner.

Following a video review, umpires ruled Contreras violated the obstruction rule for not clearing a path for Culberson.

After the game, Maddon did not hide his disdain for the rule, which came into place in 2014, three years after San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey fractured his left ankle during a play at the plate in May 2011.

"I saw a great baseball play," Maddon said after the game. "I saw (Kyle) Schwarber come in on a grounded ball, use his feet perfectly, make a low, great throw to the plate that could have been cut off, had we needed it to be, but did not because we chose to have it go to home plate. Perfect skip-hop, great play by Contreras.

"The ball kind of taking Willson towards the line, towards foul territory. He catches the ball, and his technique was absolutely 100 percent perfect."